Wildlife in China

China is a vast country with abundant natural resources and landscapes which provide habitats for a variety of wildlife. There are over 4,400 species of vertebrates including 1,244 species of birds, 430 mammals, 208 amphibians, 350 reptiles, and 2,300 fishes. China is one of the countries with largest number of wildlife species.

In the old, beautiful and richly endowed land, there are numerous valuable animals and various species of rare and endemic wildlife. Giant panda, the golden monkey, the white-lipped deer, Chinese alligator, brown-eared pheasant and Chinese river dolphin are unique. Crested ibis, the black-necked crane, Asiatic elephant and nearly a hundred other species which are endangered or rare in the world are to be found in China. Of the 15 species of cranes in the world, 9 are found in China. Additionally, China has 18 species of primates, while many countries in the same latitudes have none.

Wildlife is treasure of mankind and an important part of the natural environment. In order to protect, develop and reasonably utilize wildlife resources, the Chinese government has established the "Wildlife Protection Law of P. R. China" and other conservation laws and policies. More than 574 forest or wildlife natural reserves have been established; programs have begun to build up artificial propagation population for the major rare and endangered species; rescue projects for giant panda and crested ibis have been carried out, and plus have been designed to reintroduce some China extinct species. Wildlife conservation in China has won international concern and support, and Chinese wildlife authorities and conservation organizations now raise closely with people and professional groups abroad to promote studies and research, enforce laws and regulations, take effective measures, raise people's awareness of wildlife conservation and further our progress in wildlife conservation.

With her vast area, diverse landscapes and climatic variations, China harbors a rich wildlife heritage. Chinese government and conservation organizations have paid great attention to natural reserve construction as a means of protecting the natural environment and resources. by the end of 1995, 779 nature reserves of all 3 categories(forest wild animal and natural historical heritage) and 750 national forest area(a total area of 78,450 thousand hectares: 8.7% of national territory) were set up to preserve the unique fauna and flora and serve as basis for scientific research, education and tourism.

Thanks to these efforts, some endangered species including Cathaya argyrophylla, Camellia chrysantha, Golden monkey, Takin, Eld deer, Chinese alligator and crested ibis have begun a gradual recovery and steady population growth.

The giant panda is the best-known and most-loved animal in China, It has become a symbol of conservation in China and the logo of China Wildlife Conservation Association (CWCA).

The giant panda mostly lives in bamboo forest in high mountains at an altitude of 1,400-3,500 meters. It often stays on the ground ,and sometimes climbs up to the trees to play and sleep in the sun, or to avoid predators or the dominant panda on the ground. It used to be a carnivore, but as the environment changed, I t has come to feed on bamboo shoots, bamboo leaves and tender bamboo as well as some fruit and small animals such as bamboo rats.

The giant panda is a solitary animal, and lives with others only during the mating season period. the female panda makes dens in tree hollows or rocky clefs where she gives birth to her babies. The male leaves immediately after mating and takes no care of the babies. Usually only one of the 2 cubs born will grow up in the wild; while under human care the 2 cubs can both survive. With a low reproductive rate, its population growth is threatened and is now showing decline. Therefore, this rare species has to be protected. The Chinese government has begun a huge program which calls for a halt to logging and forest clearance in its range, in the hope that separate groups of pandas will meet in order to increase the gene pull.

The giant panda now mostly lives in Sichuan, Gansu, Shaanxi provinces and it is listed among the first-class protected animals in China.

The golden monkey has beautiful reddish-gold hair and a bluish face with a small upturned snub nose and lappets at the sides of the mouth. It is also called upturned nose monkey.

The golden monkey is exclusive found in China, and includes 3 subspecies : Sichuan golden monkey(Pygathrix roxellanae), Yunan golden monkey(P. roxellanae bitei) and Guizhou golden monkey(P. brelichi). It most lives in mixed broad-leaf and coniferous forest at an altitude of 1,800-3,000 meters, and feeds on fruit, tender branches, sprouts and leaves. As forests have been destroyed, their population is declining. As one of the first-class protected animals, they are protected by the Chinese government with various measures.

The snow leopard is a mysterious animal and the most beautiful of Asian wild cats. Its soft and spotted gray and black fur blends with the rocky landscape, so it is seldom seen by people.

The snow leopard mostly lives at an altitude of 2,000-6,000 meters. They may follow herds of blue sheep day after day, cutting off the old, the young, the weak and the sick. They are found in the Tibetan plateau. Xinjiang, Gansu, Inner Mongolia, and are classed as first-class protected animal.

Tigers are the largest of the living cats. They are efficient predators, after a careful stalk, a tiger makes a short rush towards its prey and then quickly bites the back of the animals neck or its throat, causing death as a result of broken vertebrae or suffocation.

There are two species in China: Siberian tiger(Panthera tigris altaica) and South China tiger(P. tigris amoyensis), however, the number of Siberian tiger and South China tiger has fallen due to an alarming loss of habit and the demand for their parts in oriental medicine. The number of Siberian tiger is no more than 20 in Northeast of China , 150 in the far east of Russia in the wild. If including breeding tiger in Zoo of world, the total number of Siberian tiger is 350. But South China tiger hasn't so good lucky as Siberian tiger, it is exclusively found in China. A investigation on the number and habit of South China tiger was carried out by WWF and Ministry of Forestry in 1990, but the scientists didn't see a South China tiger, the number of South China tiger is no more than 20 along the southern area of the Yangtze River Valley in the wild by analyzing feet traces and faeces, if including tiger of zoo, the total number of South China tiger about 68, but ratio of male and female is 62.5: 37.5. It is facing inbreeding, old-aged, population degeneration. The South China tiger is one of the most endangered species.

In 1993, a self imposed ban on traditional Chinese medicines made from tiger parts has cost China hundreds of millions of yuan, but the freeze will remain to help save them. Traditionally, almost every part of the tigers is used to cue a variety of ailments and Chinese Doctors are now working hard to replace them with alternatives, in an effort to protect their numbers. China now has foreign cooperation to learn new conservation and breeding techniques in an effort to save its own species of this magnificent animal.

As one of the rarest birds in the world, it distributes in China and Japan, but Japan only has one. The crested ibis often lives in trees and descends to the ground to look for food. It feeds on fish, frogs, crabs, and insects. Only 7 had been found in Yang County on the southern slope of the Qin Mountains in Shaanxi Province in 1981, it is the last spot in the world survives in the wild. owing to take some effective protected measure by Chinese government, the number of crested ibis have increased to 60(26 in the wild, 32-34 in human care). But the conservation of crested ibis is facing a series of question such as inbreeding, population dispersal, habit conservation and recovery etc.. Therefore, CWCA expect a international cooperation on protecting crested ibis, and take some effective measures to enlarge population so as to it can free fly in the sky.

China is the global center of distribution of the pheasant family Phasianide, supporting 52 species out of a world total of 196. Pheasant are among the most spectacular-looking birds, being generally large and with many species exhibiting brilliant coloration of plumage and extravagant ornamentation of plumes, ear-tufts, ruffs, brightly colored bare facial skin, inflatable pouches, or iridescent ocelli on their feathers.

The brown eared pheasant can't fly very well, but they do glide with ease, they are good runner, and also fight to defend a nesting territory. Dells in high mountains and in the forest. Usually build nest in bushes or in small hollows on the ground. Mainly distributed over Shaanxi and Hebei provinces. There are other two eared pheasant in China: Blue eared pheasant(C. auritum) and Tibetan eared pheasant(C. crossoptilon).

Cranes are another family of birds for which China is rightly famed. Out of a world total of only 15 species, China have no fewer than eight. In culture, cranes have been well-known throughout the world. From ancient to modern times, the Chinese have been fond of crane, These birds have frequently been subjects of Chinese music, poetry and dance, and such crafts as printing, embroidery, and sculpture. The crane symbolizes longevity, fortune and dignity, however due to environmental pollution, excessive capture and excessive hunting, the abundance of these magnificent birds has gradually been decreasing, In recent years, the Chinese government have established some natural reserves to protect this beautiful birds.

The red-crowned crane dwells along reedy marshlands. Capable of flying over long distances and feeds on fish, worms, frogs and grains. When Spring comes, it breeds in the marshlands in the middle and lower reaches of Nen Jiang River which is part of the Zha long natural reserve. In the winter, it lives in the marshlands and lakeside of the lower reaches of Yangtze River.

The Chinese alligator is a valuable reptile endemic to China and is mainly distributed over the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River. During the past several decades, the population of this race species has decreased year by year and the size of their natural ranges continues to decline. According to investigations, there are about five hundred Chinese alligator left in the wild in Zhangjiang and Anhui provinces.

The Chinese alligator is eminently worthy of scientific study, the heart of the Chinese alligator has four chambers like that of mammals and birds, but its heart also has a foramen panizzae, the heart of the Chinese alligator has function to separate the flow of oxygenated and unoxygenated blood and this may be of significance in the course of animal evolution.